Bagg O’Day (Five Star Day) tracked in third behind opening splits of :21.67
and :43.62 before seizing the lead entering the stretch and the four-year-old
gelding went on to capture the $50,000
Don
Bernhardt at Ellis Park by a comfortable 1 1/4-length margin, establishing a
new track for 6 1/2 furlongs of 1:13.74. The Steve Hobby trainee was making his
stakes debut and has now won two straight. Joe Rocco Jr. was up.
Off as the 7-2 third choice among six sprinters, the Kentucky-bred Bagg O’Day
improved his career record to 15-4-4-2, $185,294 for owners Windy Spa Racing
Stable and Bobby Robertson. Rise Up (Rockport Harbor), who contested the early
pace, held second by a four-length cushion. Good Lord (Greatness), who was
seeking a fourth straight win in the Don Bernhardt, wound up weakening to last.
Earlier on the program, Limousine Liberal (Success Appeal) established a new
six-furlong track record when stopping the teletimer in 1:07.89 in the
sixth race. Trained by Ben Colebrook, the three-year-old gelding dueled
early before drawing away in the stretch to score by 3 3/4 lengths with Dylan
Davis. Limousine Liberal improved to two for two in his career, defeating maiden
special weight foes at Churchill Downs on June 21.
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